5 Must-Have Free Android Apps Today

Android Cameraphones Against Nokia 808 PureView

Beyond a shadow of doubt Android is the most popular operating system in the world, but the question is if it deserves that title or not. Apparently, many stunning handsets run Google’s platform, and it’s THIS circumstance that makes Android this popular. But what would happen if this OS were on the handsets of only one manufacturer? Would it be as popular as it is now? To discover the truth behind that we decided to compare the Nokia 808 PureView, which runs Nokia Belle OS and sports the largest lens — 41MP, and several Android cameraphones in face of the LG Thrill 4G (aka LG Optimus 3D), the T-Mobile MyTouch Slide 4G and the HTC Evo 3D.

Nokia has been working on PureView technology for 5 years, and due to it smartphones can now sport camera a lens larger than 20MP, though I have to say there is no any smartphone featuring more than 16MP lens (the HTC Titan II). The Nokia 808 PureView’s powerful sensor comes with:

• Carl Zeiss optics of focal length: 8.02mm.
• 35mm equivalent focal length: 26mm, 16:9 | 28mm, 4:3.
• F-number: f/2.4.
• Focus range: 15cm – Infinity (throughout the zoom range).
• Construction: 5 elements, 1 group. All lens surfaces are aspherical.

1. One high-index, low-dispersion glass mold lens.
2. Mechanical shutter with neutral density filter.

• Optical format: 1/1.2”.
• Total number of pixels: 7728 x 5368.
• Pixel Size: 1.4 microns.

But the technology is not this powerful due to the sensor and only. There is an outstanding feature called oversampling as well. The latter allows taking snaps in smaller sizes at the same time keeping three main peculiarities — great image quality, lossless zoom and excellent low light performance.

For example, the actual size of an image taken by a 38MP camera will be about 10MB. It’s something unacceptable for current smartphones the owners of which hold dear each megabyte. So Nokia developed a method allowing to shoot photos in smaller sizes and store them in the phone.

Another advantage of this technology is conditioned by zooming without quality loss. Find the modes in which you can take photos below:

• 3x is the default zoom mode
• 4x lossless zoom at 1080p
• 6x at 720p
• 12x when recording videos at nHD (640×360)

Moreover, its large f/2.4 aperture allows you to take photos with faster shutter speed and without noise.

Nokia Lumia 808 PureView Sample Photos

Nokia Lumia 808 PureView Sample Video

The LG Optimus 3D is the first 3D smartphone launched in the US with the name the LG Thrill 4G. It sports a camera with two 5MP lenses allowing users to have 3D pictures and videos. The phone can’t boast of a monster-sized lens, but being the first 3D shooting smartphone is a rather good title.

The LG Optimus 3D will record 3D videos at 720p and 30fmps, but there is a toggle allowing to easily switch to 2D mode and record videos at 1080p (Full HD) at the same 30fps. You will easily tell the difference between photos shot in 2D and 3D modes as there are 3D marks on each 3D image.

One annoying feature is you will not be able to open the camera app if there is less than 10% of battery remaining. We must note the 3D feature on the LG Optimus 3D is a real battery killer though it’s promised to be corrected on its successor, the LG Otpimus 3D MAX.

LG Optimus 3D Sample Photos

LG Optimus 3D Sample Video (3D)

LG Optimus 3D Sample Video (2D)

The first smartphone in the US enabled to shot 3D photos and videos is not the LG Thrill 4G, but the HTC Evo 3D launched via Sprint (it’s seen even from the name). In some sense it has many common lineaments with LG’s phone, therefore geeks couldn’t reach an agreement. The HTC Evo 3D sports the same double 5MP camera and it can be switched between 2D and 3D modes easily. The biggest difference between this handset and the LG Optimus 3D is the HTC Evo 3D records videos in both 2D and 3D modes at 720p.

HTC Evo 3D Sample Photos

HTC Evo 3D Sample Video (3D)

HTC Evo 3D Sample Photos (2D)

Finally, we have another HTC-branded smartphone dubbed the T-Mobile myTouch Slide 4G determined as the best cameraphone running Android OS, though only HTC used to think so.

Unlike previous Android phones, this one sports an 8MP camera with autofocus and dual-LED flash meaning this camera will feel free when taking snaps in dark conditions. Another feature helping with better pictures in low light is the backside illumination. When users snap the camera button, a special Zero Shutter lag technology begins recording everything it sees in its memory buffer. So when you push the button to get a photo, it pulls the picture from cash. The camera also comes with an f-number value of f/2.2, which will help users capture with greater depth of field.

T-Mobile myTouch Slide 4G Sample Photos

T-Mobile myTouch Slide 4G Sample Video

Camera’s special features:

• SweepShot™: Used to capture ultra-wide panoramic shots, so that you can sweep across an entire scene in a single shot.
• ClearShot™ HDR: Used to capture objects in high contrast settings, so that photo details are not lost.
• BurstShot™: Used to capture multiple photos in a quick burst, so that you don’t miss the perfect photo.

The question I raised at the beginning is still actual, so let us know what you think in this regard.

How to Install Non-market Android Apps

Now that you are continuously surfing over pages of Android Market with hundreds of apps to download, one day you may wonder what next, what are the other resources to explore. This article contains detailed instructions as how to find and install third party compatible apps.

Step 1. Research and locate other compatible app resource

The easiest way for this step is just to do a search on Google, but sometimes you may just discover a compatible app by accident. Forums also are a good place to read about other users’ findings and comments. Other websites like Slide Android Market and AndAppStore also feature non-market apps.

Step 2. Check to see of the app is in compatible format.

You have to make sure in this step that the app you are going to download is in the right format. The correct format to work with your Android handset is the APK; that is the file should have the APK extension to work.

Step 3. Start the download the compatible file to the smartphone.

As a rule, the file will be downloaded to the phone’s default download folder. But the location is not important if you can find the file later.

Step 4. Customize your Android phone to a non-Market installation option.

You will have to go to Menu, Settings and then press Applications. From the latter, select the Unknown Sources option.

Step 5. Get the Android file manager and install it.

You can also use Android SDK for APK file installation. But most users usually opt for a free file manager app. The most popular is the free Apps Installer available from Android Market, but of course there are other with similar function.

Step 6. Installing the new software.

Launch the file manager and then select install. Browse to the downloaded APK file and select it. Further follow on screen instructions to finish the installation.

Step 7. Make Android secure again.

Go to Menu, Settings and Application and then uncheck the Unknown Source box.

We hope with this simple instructions, you can find tons of useful apps to every taste and install them without any headache

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• How to Protect Your Android Device From Malware

Viewsonic Viewpad 10 Android 2.2 Update

Viewsonic has finally rolled out Android 2.2 update for their ViewPad 10 tablet. This tablet originally came with Android 1.6 operating system and its company has made its user base wait for quite a long time for an update. While we strongly believe that the company should have blessed the users with Honeycomb, it is still nice to see that the users will be atleast be able to view flash content on their tablets. Here is a step by step instructions on how to get the update on your ViewPad 10.

* You will require a 1GB USB Drive
* Then you will need the UNETBOOTIN App to create a bootable USB drive from an ISO file. Download it here:

http://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/unetbootin/UNetbootin/549/unetbootin-win-549.exe?r=http%3A%2F%2Funetbootin.sourceforge.net%2F&ts=1302711528&use_mirror=cdnetworks-us-1

* Then download the Android 2.2 ISO file for ViewPad 10 from here: http://www.viewsonic.com/ISOs/p10t-V2.2-1.4_viewsonic_dual.iso

Now, we will create the USB Bootable drive:
Insert your USB drive and run UNETBOOTIN. Select Diskimage and ISO >> Click the browse button and find the ISO file you just downloaded. Make sure your USB drive is shown and selected. Click OK and wait for the ISO file to be flashed.

Now, we will update the operating system on the ViewPad.

Insert the USB Drive and a USB Keyboard in to the ViewPad 10. Make sure that the AC Adapter is connected to prevent sudden loss of power. Turn it on, click F11 on the keyboard. Select your USB Drive on the next screen and hit Enter key. Select “install to hard drive” on the Android install screen.

Select SDA1 Linux and EXT3 format. Press Yes on the next screen. Reboot when the process has completed.

Also check out:

• Iconia Tab a500 root guide
• Dell Streak 7 one click root guide

Acer A500 Root

Acer Iconia Tab A500 is a Android 3.0 tablet sporting a zippy Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, all packed inside a nice big 10.1 ich screen. It costs a lot less than the Xoom ($600 vs $450) but is a bit on the bulkier side. Some people are already calling it a cure-all tablet and we respectfully agree with them. But, did you know you could do much more with this Android tablet after rooting it? Follow these instructions to root it:

1. make sure, you have turned the USB debugging on. Make sure unknown sources is also selected
2. Get a micro SD card and insert it into the tablet. Switch to portrait mode and lock it in that orientation
3. Then, download and execute the APK given below.
4. Run the root procedure within the app which was installed
5. Wait for sometime and you will see the message “Congratulation! You have root access”

That is it! [required apk file]

Also check out:

• Tmobile g2x root guide
• Xperia Play Root guide

Root Tmobile G2x

Yay, so you just got yourself the Tmobile G2x and you are thrilled by all that power packed into that little smartphone. Now, you want to make it do stuff which the companies do not want to do and to do that, you will need to Root that beauty. Just follow these instructions to root it:

First, you will need to set up ADB. Follow my Windows ADB guide to sort it out. Done? Now, install the ADB driver from here.

Then enable USB debugging on your phone by going to Settings >> Applications >> Development. Then connect your phone to your PC using its USB port.

Download super one click from here and choose the option “root” to, yeah, root it! So, was not that simple? Pat your back and thank god.

Also check out:

• Asus Transformer Rooting Guide
• Tattoo Rooting guide
• Xperia Play Rooting Guide

SE Xperia Play Root

This method roots a rooted Android 3.0 (gingerbread) firmware of SE Xperia Play. Just follow these instructions to root the Xperia.

1) First you need to unlock the bootloader of Play. Go to the link given at the bottom to unlock it the official way.
2) Then download modded image file from the link given below.
3) Set up ADB on your Windows by following our guide.
On your computer launch the “Command Prompt” or the “Terminal” incase of Mac OSX or Linux.
4) Then, copy the img file downloaded in the previous step (play_modded.img) to the "fastboot" directory in the ADB setup directory.
5) Then run the following command:
Windows (in cmd prompt):

fastboot flash system play_modded.img

Linux (in terminal):

fastboot -i 0x0fce flash system play_modded.img

Mac (in terminal):

fastboot-mac -i 0x0fce flash system play_modded.img

6) Wait for few seconds for the process to complete.

[unlock xperia play bootloader link] [xperia play modded img download]

Also check out:

• Sylvania 7 Tablet
• WildFire root instructions

Dell Streak 7 Root Guide

Dell Streak 7 is one of the cheapest branded Android tablets around. It comes with Android 2.2 Froyo and will be given Honeycomb treatment. Here is a guide to root your Streak 7 which will open a new world of possibilities.

First, you need to setup ADB in Windows. Follow the instructions given in that link first to get ADB working. Then download SuperOneClick from here. Extract it to a folder.

Now, put you Dell Streak 7 in USB debugging mode. Do this by going to ‘Applications’—> ‘Settings’ >> ‘Applications’ >> ‘Development’ >> check ‘USB debugging’.

Then connect your tablet to your PC by a USB cable and go the folder you extracted in the first step (superoneclick’s folder).

Simply click the root button and let the app do the job. Just in few moments, you will have the Streak 7 rooted and ready to rock.

Also check out:

• Motorola Xoom SuperOneClick
• Thunderbolt Root Guide

Xoom 3G, WiFi One Click Root

Here is a much more simpler and straight forward way of rooting your new Wi-Fi or 3G Motorola Xoom. This one does not require you download huge SDKs or anything of that sort (like this Motorola Xoom Root guide). Follow this guide very carefully:

First, download motorola drivers (all links given at the bottom) and install them. After that, download RootMyXoom and unzip the file. Go the folder you just unzipped and run the RootMyXoom.03.exe.

Before we proceed ahead, make sure you have your data backed up on your PC because rooting with One Click Root will erase everything on your Xoom. Backup done? If you running the 3G version of Xoom, click on “Root My Xoom” button.

If you have a Wi-Fi only Xoom, click on “WiFi actions..” tab and then on “Root My WiFi Xoom”.

Simply, follow the instructions on the screen. In the end, you will have a rooted Motorola Xoom. Also, you will be happy to know that SD card patch is applied automatically and you will be able to use SD card just the way you use them on other Android phones. No need to separately apply the Tiamat kernel patch (aka XOOM SD patch) I mentioned yesterday.

[download xoom drivers] [rootmyxoom download]

Also check out:

• Xoom Youtube App download
• thunderbolt one click root guide

Xoom: Enable MicroSD card

Motorola has still not released an official fix for the MicroSD card slot on Xoom but that has not stopped the brave and adventurous developer community (and crazy people) to fix that problem. To fix the nasty problem, all you have to do is use the kernel ‘Tiamat’ (v1.3.0). This will add support for the slot that can be found in the SDcard2 root folder.

We have been told that the official fix is in the tunnel and will be released in ‘few’ weeks. Wow, that is gross.

Anyway, here are the instructions on how to install the new kernel. Of course, before following these instructions, make sure you have rooted your Xoom. Feel free to follow my Xoom Root Instructions guide.

1. Reboot into the bootloader by running:
adb reboot bootloader

2. Flash the boot image to your boot partition, then boot back into Android by running:
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot reboot

3. Push the bcm4329.ko, scsi_wait_scan.ko, and any other modules to your /system/lib/modules folder and reboot.
adb remount
adb push bcm4329.ko /system/lib/modules/bcm4329.ko
adb push tun.ko /system/lib/modules/tun.ko
adb push scsi_wait_scan.ko /system/lib/modules/scsi_wait_scan.ko
adb push cifs.ko /system/lib/modules/cifs.ko

adb push vold.fstab /system/etc/vold.fstab
adb reboot

[new kernel link]

After this kernel patch, you will be able to expand Xoom’s memory to up to 64GB (built in 32GB + 32GB via microSD). Would not that be cool?

Asus Transformer Root

Asus Transformer has not even made it to the market and someone has not only been able to get their filthy hands on the tablet but has also rooted it. Yes, he has been able to gain root access and this means that you will be able to all sorts of mods on it the day it hit the market shelves. UPDATE – Rooting instructions are up.

The specs of the Transformer tablet by Asus go like these – 10.1-inch capacitive display, 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, 10 finger multi touch scroll, Android 3.0 operating system, 1GB internal storage, 512MB RAM, micro SD card slot, 680 grams, 5 mega pixel camera, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, 2x (micro) USB ports and A GPS.

Here are the rooting instructions:

1) download the following .zip
2) copy it to the microSD card
3) reboot the device holding power + volume down
4) select to boot into recovery (RCK)
5) the update will flash and reboot
6) you now have root (please remove .zip from microSD card)

[ZIP file download]

Also check out:

• SE Xperia Play Root Guide
• Xoom Australia Telstra